Broadcom'sInConcert(R) Combo Modules Offer Big Performance Advantages in a Tiny Package to Improve the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Experience in Even the Smallest PCs

TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Computex 2009 -- Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ:
BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced three new Bluetooth(R) + Wi-Fi(R) modules designed to bring best-in-class wireless capabilities to notebook PCs and Netbooks. The new Broadcom(R) InConcert(R) modules are the industry's only solutions to combine standards-compliant Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips in the smallest form factor available (the half mini-card). Broadcom's highly-integrated modules enable PC manufacturers to add more wireless features to increasingly smaller designs, and offer unique coexistence technologies to ensure the best possible user experience.

The new InConcert modules expand Broadcom's industry-leading family of wireless combination products that are driving Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi and FM into an array of handheld devices. Although notebooks typically have more board space to accommodate discrete Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips on separate modules, the growing demand for smaller Netbooks and ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs) has created the need for more integrated wireless solutions. By combining two of its most popular Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips onto a half mini-card, Broadcom can help PC vendors seize this opportunity by offering proven wireless performance in smaller, more cost-effective platforms.

"Having shipped millions of single-chip combo products, it's not a stretch to apply those lessons to create a better solution for PCs," said Michael Hurlston, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Home and Wireless business unit. "Most notebook designs can benefit from better wireless performance and fewer components, but the sweet spot for InConcert modules is Netbooks and UMPCs. Several of our PC customers are using these modules in their next designs to provide the functionality, style and trouble-free user experience that today's consumers demand."

According to ABI Research, Netbooks and UMPCs now represent a significant portion of the PC market, with annual sales expected to top 120 million units by 2012. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are standard features in these new platforms because they enable the connectivity and flexibility that consumers want from a mobile computer. Bluetooth can be used to eliminate cords between keyboards and mice, synchronize/transfer data and photos from mobile phones, and listen to music and make VoIP calls over a wireless headset. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi offers greater bandwidth for Web surfing, downloading and streaming media content, and transferring large data files across a network.

"Bluetooth and Wi-Fi provide the wireless freedom and enable the mobile applications that Netbook customers want - from fast Internet surfing, to multimedia streaming, to convenient connections with peripheral devices," said Campbell Kan, Vice President of Acer's Mobile Computing business unit. "Equipped with Broadcom's new wireless solutions, our next generation of Aspire One Netbooks will go even further to keep people connected with style and simplicity."

Improving the Wireless Experience for PC Users

As manufacturers pack more wireless features in smaller computers, multi-radio coexistence is increasingly important because there is less space to separate various radios and antennas. When the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios are used at the same time, interference may cause latency problems with Bluetooth mice and keyboards, lead to poor audio quality for Bluetooth headsets, and slow down or even drop the Wi-Fi connection. Coexistence technologies are even more critical in products that use the new Bluetooth 3.0 + High Speed (HS) standard, which enables high-speed, point-to-point transmissions by using the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios at the same time.

To ensure the best possible wireless experience for PC users, the new InConcert modules have been designed to mitigate interference with very little radio separation. Broadcom's unique coexistence algorithms intelligently manage Bluetooth and Wi-Fi traffic, and are more effective than the standard based 3-wire approach used by other vendors. Better coexistence techniques maximize Wi-Fi and Bluetooth throughput when both radios are operating concurrently, which provides faster Web surfing, smooth mouse operation and flawless audio quality for PC users. Further, Broadcom's coexistence interface is self-sufficient and does not need platform modification, which facilitates easy integration into PC platforms.

Technical Information

Broadcom offers three InConcert modules (BCM94312HMGB, the BCM943225HMB, BCM943224HMB) that deliver different levels of Wi-Fi performance to enable products with varied usage models and price points. All of the modules feature Broadcom's BCM2070 Bluetooth 3.0 + High Speed (HS) transceiver, which leverages a superior radio architecture to provide strong Bluetooth connections over greater distances than other implementations.

The BCM2070 can be combined with one of Broadcom's single-chip Wi-Fi solutions to meet a manufacturer's cost and performance goals. The resulting modules include:

-- the BCM94312HMGB - combines Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11g to offer proven,
yet cost-effective wireless features;
-- the BCM943225HMB - combines Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11n to provide robust
wireless connectivity to support the most demanding multimedia
applications in the 2.4 GHz band; or
-- the BCM943224HMB - combines Bluetooth 3.0 and dual-band 802.11n to offer
the same superior performance and provides additional capacity in the 5
GHz band for applications that require dedicated bandwidth.

InConcert modules also streamline the development and manufacturing of notebooks, Netbooks and UMPCs. The modules use a single antenna system for both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth transmissions, which simplifies product design and reduces the combined rest of bill of materials (RBOM) cost by up to 25 percent. Broadcom also offers an extensive library of Bluetooth profiles to enable the widest array of Bluetooth applications on a PC, and provide the best user experience for Windows(R) or Linux(R) based systems. Additionally, InConcert modules include Broadcom's OneDriver(TM) software, which provides the performance, security and features for which its industry-leading Wi-Fi solutions are known.

Availability

Broadcom is now sampling the BCM94312HMGB, BCM943225HMB and BCM943224HMB modules and expects to begin shipping production volumes in the third quarter of 2009.

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is a major technology innovator and global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom(R) products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. We provide the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything(R).

Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with 2008 revenue of $4.66 billion, and holds over 3,300 U.S. and over 1,300 foreign patents, more than 7,500 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video, data and multimedia.

A FORTUNE 500(R) company, Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at +1.949.926.5000 or at
www.broadcom.com.

Cautions regarding Forward Looking Statements:

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and business, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the demand for notebooks and Netbooks, the ability of InConcert modules to help customers seize that market, and the timing of volume production for InConcert combination modules. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

Important factors that may cause such a difference for Broadcom in connection with InConcert combination modules include, but are not limited to: